Toe Callous or Sole Ripple

Clarissa · Toe Callous or Sole Ripple

Toe callouses seem to come in many versions according to the masses of photos I've seen in hoof & trimmer websites. The toe callous is supposed to be there to protect the end of P3 for whatever reason be it thin sole or something else. But I never saw any quite like what Sonny was getting on his soles.

I think I have discovered what causes this ‘toe callous’ that has been developing inside the front walls on the sole of Sonny’s feet. It’s that ridge of sole immediately behind the wall as indicated by the arrows in the following photos.

It got really long & thick on both front feet as the toes got longer. It got to the point where the sole was no longer contained by the walls that should have been surrounding the sole.

My thinking is that the sole was growing forward so fast from it's growth points around the frog that it rippled as it overgrew the bottoms of the walls that should have been bearing on the ground. The sole actually pushed on the back of the wall forcing it further forward in a vicious cycle.

The other thing I thought of was that it was there to help strengthen the sole/wall connection point that is weak due to thin soles.

Now that it is NOT there I can see what was causing it. Now that the walls are steep enough to act as a bearing surface for the hoof rather than all the weight being borne by the sole alone, the sole isn’t overgrowing the bottom of the walls or pushing on the inner side of the walls anymore.

However right at the toe tip the sole is still overgrowing the wall therefore still needs the groove cutting to give the wall a slight advantage to draw into a tighter angle. You know the theory about new growth following old. So if the old isn't being pushed on, it will grow a little steeper hence causing the toe to withdraw into a more upright angle.

Because I'm not sure if it really is toe callous I am calling it a sole ripple.

So the sole now is beginning to grow normally staying within the bounds of the walls.

this is the left front hoof

this is the right front hoof